RHH's photos with the keyword: ampullacea

In Explore May 27, 2011, #365. Masdevallia ampullacea is another species in the saltatrices section of the genus Masdevallia. That translates into tubular flowers with longish tails and a kind of bulging "belly" at the base of the flowers. This group includes many of my favorite Masdevallia species. The plant is small, 6-7cm tall, and the flowers which are held on spikes near the top of the leaves are 7cm tall from the tips of the tails. The flowers have a faint sweetish scent that I cannot identify and have hair-like glands on the inside of the tube. The plant hails from Ecuador. Note: this was awarded as Masdevallia aurea but has been identified as Masdevallia ampullacea and the award is now under that name. The two species look quite similar and could be confused, though I still have my doubts. For more pictures go to: orchidsinbloom-ron.blogspot.com/2011/05/masdevallia-aurea... .

This small species is another native of Ecuador. The small plant is 6 cm tall and the flowers are 5 cm from tip to tip. Like the other species in the Saltatrices group of Masdevallias this species has a "belly" and the inside of the flower is covered with glandular hairs. It is also faintly fragrant. orchidsinbloom-ron.blogspot.com/2011/05/masdevallia-aurea...

This is another awarded plant. It was given a Certificate of Horticultural Merit by the American Orchid Society, an award given to "well-grown and well-flowered species or natural hybrid with characteristics that contribute to the horticultural aspects of orchidology, such as aesthetic appeal." I was also informed that species is quite rare, growing on only one mountainside in Ecuador. It belongs to a group of Masdevallias that are characterized by tubular flowers, glandular hairs in the the "tubes" and a kind of "belly" at the base of the flower. orchidsinbloom-ron.blogspot.com/2011/05/masdevallia-aurea...

One more shot of this miniature species from Ecuador, this time of an individual flower, with the glandular hairs that line the flower tube clearly visible. What function they serve, I do not know, but all the species in the Saltatrices section of Masdevallia have them. orchidsinbloom-ron.blogspot.com/2012/11/masdevallia-aurea...

Both the distinguishing features of the group to which this species belongs can be seen in the photo. The glandular hairs with which the flower tube is lined and the "belly" at the base of the flower show that this species belongs to Masdevallia section Saltatrices. The species is from Ecuador and is fragrant. orchidsinbloom-ron.blogspot.com/2012/11/masdevallia-aurea...

Another photo of the species just posted, this time of the whole plant. To give an idea of the size, the flared top of the pot that is in for the photo is about two inches across. From Ecuador and fragrant. orchidsinbloom-ron.blogspot.com/2012/11/masdevallia-aurea...